November 29, 2013 10:15 PM CSTNovember 30, 2013 12:53 AM CSTAfter low points both in and outside of football, what's Baylor's emotional state heading into game against TCU?

After low points both in and outside of football, what's Baylor's emotional state heading into game against TCU?

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Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports

CAREER ENDERS: Quarterback Casey Pachall and cornerback Jason Verrett both got their first starts for TCU in a wild 50-48 loss at Baylor in the 2011 season opener, and now play their final games against the Bears. Pachall is 17-5 as a starter, missing the final nine games last season for alcohol treatment, and being out five games this year with broken bones in his left (non-throwing) arm. Verrett has started 33 games and his 36 passes defended since last year are the most nationally. “Here’s a guy that basically didn’t want to come out of his room after that Baylor game,” coach Gary Patterson said of Verrett.

Baylor still has a lot of fans who appreciate what the Bears accomplished this season, including the coach they’ll face Saturday.

“The cool thing about seeing Baylor do it is that it’s not the traditional power,” TCU’s Gary Patterson said. “It raises the level for everybody. Every university has the chance to win a conference title.”

After rising to No. 4 in the BCS, Baylor (9-1, 6-1 Big 12) no longer controls its own conference destiny after being blown out at Oklahoma State. The Bears need to win at TCU on Saturday then beat Texas in the finale for Floyd Casey Stadium on Dec. 7 and hope that Oklahoma beats Oklahoma State.

No one really knows Baylor’s emotional state.

The Bears had been hit by injuries and were already reeling from what happened in Stillwater, where anything that could go wrong did go wrong.

“There are still goals and ambitions that we set prior to the season that we can still accomplish,” quarterback Bryce Petty said. “Does this game kind of change our postseason chances? Maybe a little bit, but it definitely doesn’t take away anything from the season that we’ve had and that we’re going to have.”

Then Eddie Briles, the older brother of Baylor coach Art Briles, died after a fall at his home Wednesday, and a disappointing week turned tragic.

A week ago, Baylor was at the high point in its football program history.

Now this.

TCU, by itself, would have been a difficult matchup. Don’t read too much into the Horned Frogs’ 4-7 record, including two wins in eight Big 12 games.

In a matchup of defensive vs. offensive gurus, Patterson is 4-1 against Briles dating to the latter’s days at Houston. Given extra time to prepare, Patterson has been very good. The Horned Frogs have won eight straight after an open week.

Because TCU isn’t going to a bowl for the first time since 2004, Baylor represents one final chance for a signature win.

“If you look at the last game against Baylor, we were able to hold the ball and move it,” Patterson said. “They only had 55 plays. They run the ball really well, so you have to be able to stop it.”

That win came with Trevone Boykin at quarterback.

TCU expects to start Casey Pachall in his last college game. Neither he nor TCU have experienced the season they wanted.

Pachall suffered a broken forearm in the second game of the season. When he returned he was operating behind a depleted offensive line, one reason he has seven interceptions to four touchdown passes.

But after leaving school following a DWI arrest in 2012, entering rehab and returning, Pachall drew praise from Patterson for his increased maturity.

“I was walking up the steps at Kansas State and heard a guy call him a few names, and he just looked and smiled and kept walking.” Patterson said. “After he broke his arm, he came to my office that Monday and said he wanted to travel with the team and work on scout team. You can’t measure the positive aspect of that.

“I’ll give [Oklahoma coach] Bob Stoops a lot of credit. During pregame this year, he asked me about him and then went to our side and shook his hand.”

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